We all have different eating habits. There are a large number of “eating styles” which can allow us to stay healthy. However, there are some which are driven by an intense fear of becoming fat and which actually damage our health. These are called “eating disorders” and involve:

eating too much

eating too little

using harmful ways to get rid of calories.

In fact, the 'eating disorders' usually involve a lot more than eating behaviour, so that people affected by them are constantly worrying about how to avoid taking in calories or how to 'burn off' or how to get rid of them. They also find themselves checking their weight and appearance all the time, avoid seeing themselves in mirrors or being in photographs to reassure themselves that their weight has not increased.

This leaflet deals with two eating disorders - Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. It describes the two disorders separately, however

the symptoms of anorexia and bulimia are often mixed

people may also move from bulimia to anorexic, or you may start with anorexic symptoms, but later develop the symptoms of bulimia.

Girls and women are 10 times more likely than boys and men to suffer from anorexia or bulimia.

However, eating disorders do seem to be getting more common in boys and men - they are more likely to develop their disorder in association with over-exercise and to want to be of a muscular build rather than a very skinny one.

What are the signs?

can't stop yourself from wanting to lose weight, even when you are well below a safe weight for your age and height

smoke more or chew gum to keep your weight down

obsessively check your weight, shape or reflection in mirrors

withdraw from social situations which may involve eating

wearing baggy clothes to hide one's body

water loading before being weighed

excluding certain food groups and making foods "good" and "bad"

avoiding mealtimes, especially at school

lose interest in sex

In girls or women - monthly menstrual periods become irregular or stop.

In men or boys - erections and wet dreams stop, testicles shrink.

Some people notice that they have developed other obsessive difficulties, such as having to stick to rigid routines and times, or perhaps fears of 'contamination', a need to study or work all the time, or difficulty in spending money appropriately.

When does it start?

We now know that people of any age can have anorexia, but it commonly starts in the teenage years. It affects around:

1 fifteen-year-old girl in every 150

1 fifteen-year-old boy in every 1000.

What happens?

You take in very few calories every day. You eat "healthily" - fruit, vegetables and salads - but they don't give your body enough energy.

You may also exercise, use slimming pills, or smoke more to keep your weight down.

You don't want to allow yourself to eat, but you buy food and cook for other people.

You still get as hungry as ever, in fact you find you can't stop thinking about food.

You become more afraid of putting on weight, and more determined to keep your weight well below what is normal.

Your family may be the first to notice your thinness and weight loss.

You may find yourself not able to tell other people the true amount you are eating and how much weight you are losing.

You may also make yourself sick if you eat anything you did not plan to allow yourself, particularly if you lose control of your eating and find yourself bingeing. However, this is known as 'anorexia, binge-purge subtype' rather than bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa sufferers are by definition in the normal weight range.

What are the signs?

make yourself vomit and/or use laxatives or other ways to get rid of calories

have irregular menstrual periods

feel tired

feel guilty

stay a normal weight, in spite of your efforts to diet.

When does it start?

Bulimia Nervosa often starts in the mid-teens. However, people can be unwell for several years before they feel able to ask for help. People most often seek help when their life changes - the start of a new relationship or having to live with other people for the first time.

About 4 out of every 100 women suffers from bulimia at some time in their lives, rather fewer men.

Bingeing

You raid the fridge or go out and buy lots of fattening foods that you would normally avoid.

You then eat it all, quickly, usually in secret.

You might get through packets of biscuits, several boxes of chocolates and a number of cakes in just a couple of hours.

You may even take someone else’s food, or shoplift, to satisfy the urge to binge.

Binges may begin as a planned meal, but because you have been restricting what you eat, you find that a normal meal doesn't satisfy you so that you can't stop eating.

Afterwards you feel stuffed and bloated – and probably guilty and depressed. You try to get rid of the food you have eaten by making yourself sick, or by purging with laxatives. It is very uncomfortable and tiring, but you find yourself trapped in a routine of binge eating, and vomiting and/or purging.

Binge Eating Disorder

If you suffer from this disorder you will diet and binge eat, but won't make yourself vomit.

It is very distressing, and you may put on a lot of weight.

Psychological therapies can be helpful and your GP can refer you to an IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service.

There is no simple answer, but these ideas have all been suggested as explanations:

Genetics: There is a lot of evidence that eating disorders run in families even where the sufferers don't necessarily live together, and that certain genes make people more vulnerable, not only to eating disorders, but to related conditions.

Lack of an “off” switch: Most of us can only diet so much before our body tells us that it is time to start eating again. Some people with anorexia may not have this same body "switch" and can keep their body weight dangerously low for a long time.

Control: It can be very satisfying to diet. Most of us know the feeling of achievement when the scales tell us that we have lost a couple of pounds. It is good to feel that we can control ourselves in a clear, visible way. It may be that your weight is the only part of your life over which you feel you do have any control.

Puberty: Anorexia can reverse some of the physical changes of becoming an adult – pubic and facial hair in men, breasts and menstrual periods in women. This may help to put off the demands of getting older, particularly sexual ones.

Social pressure: Our social surroundings powerfully influence our behaviour. Societies which don’t value thinness have fewer eating disorders. Places where thinness is valued, such as ballet schools, have more eating disorders. ‘Thin is beautiful’ in Western culture. Television, newspapers and magazines show pictures of idealised, artificially slim people. For someone with a negative body image, gyms and health clubs can also reinforce this perception. So, at some time or other, most of us try to diet. Some of us can diet too much, but for a person who may be at risk of developing an eating disorder, this can make dieting dangerous and the person may develop anorexia.

Family: Eating is an important part of our lives with other people. Accepting food gives pleasure and refusing it will often upset someone. This is particularly true within families. Saying “no” to food may be the only way you feel you can express your feelings, or have any say in family affairs. Open and honest communication between the carer and the sufferer is essential. It is also important not to be too judgemental. On the other hand, loving families often try to protect you from the consequences of an eating disorder, and this can mean that the eating disorder can go on longer.

Depression: Most of us have eaten for comfort when we have been upset, or even just bored. People with bulimia are often depressed, and it may be that binges start off as a way of coping with feelings of unhappiness. Unfortunately, vomiting and using laxatives can leave you feeling just as bad.

Low self-esteem: People with anorexia and bulimia often don’t think much of themselves, and compare themselves unfavourably to other people. Losing weight can be a way of trying to get a sense of respect and self-worth.

Emotional distress: We all react differently when bad things happen, or when our lives change. Anorexia and bulimia have been related to:

life difficulties

sexual abuse

physical illness

upsetting events - a death or the break-up of a relationship

important events - marriage or leaving home.

The vicious circle : An eating disorder can continue even when the original stress or reason for it has passed. Once your stomach has shrunk, it can feel uncomfortable and frightening to eat.

Physical causes: Some doctors think that there may be a physical cause that we don't yet understand.

Certain illnesses and treatments: There is a relatively high incidence of anorexia in people who suffer from diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis or other illnesses where diet has to be monitored and without adequate treatment, weight is lost. It can be tempting to neglect your health in order to lose some weight, and this is particularly dangerous.

Is it different for men?

Eating disorders are more common in occupations which demand a low body weight (or low body fat). These include horse riding, body building, wrestling, boxing, dancing, swimming, athletics, and rowing.

It may be that men are now seeking help for eating disorders rather than keeping quiet about them.

People with special needs and younger children

A learning difficulty, autism or some other developmental problems can disrupt eating. For example, some people with autism may take a dislike to the colour or texture of foods, and refuse to eat them.

The eating problems of pre-teen children are more to do with food texture, “picky eating” or being angry rather than with wanting to be very thin. The ways of helping these problems are rather different from those for anorexia and bulimia.

Bulimia can sometimes be tackled using a self-help manual with some guidance from a therapist.

Anorexia usually needs more organised help from a clinic or therapist. It is still worth getting as much information as you can about the options, so that you can make the best choices for yourself.

Do:

Stick to regular mealtimes – breakfast, lunch and dinner. If your weight is very low, have morning, afternoon and night time snacks too.

Try to think of one small step you could take towards a healthier way of eating. If you can’t face eating breakfast, try sitting at the table for a few minutes at breakfast time and just drinking a glass of water. When you have got used to doing this, have just a little to eat, even half a slice of toast – but do it every day.

Keep a diary of what you eat, when you eat it and what your thoughts and feelings have been every day. You can use this to see if there are connections between how you feel, what you are thinking about, and how you eat.

Try to be open about what you are or are not eating, both with yourself and with other people. Secrecy is one of the most isolating aspects of an eating disorder.

Remind yourself that you don’t always have to be achieving things – let yourself off the hook sometimes.

Remind yourself that, if you lose more weight, you will feel more anxious and depressed in the medium-term, even though you may feel better short-term.

Make two lists – one of what your eating disorder has given you, one of what you have lost through it. A self-help book can help you with this.

Try to be kind to your body, don’t punish it.

Make sure you know what a reasonable weight is for you, and that you understand why.

Read stories of other people’s experiences of recovery. You can find these in self-help books or on the internet.

Think about joining a self-help group, such as B-eat. Your GP may also be able to recommend one.

Avoid websites or social networks that encourage you to lose weight and stay at a very low body weight. They encourage you to damage your health, but won’t do anything to help when you fall ill.

Don't:

Don’t weigh yourself more than once a week.

Don’t spend time checking your body and looking at yourself in the mirror. Nobody is perfect. The longer you look at yourself, the more likely you are to find something you don’t like. Constant checking can make the most attractive person unhappy with the way they look.

Don’t cut yourself off from family and friends. You may want to because they think you are too thin, but they could be a lifeline.

Your GP can refer you to a specialist counsellor, psychiatrist or psychologist.

You may choose a private therapist, self-help group or clinic, but it is still safer to let your GP know what is happening.

It's wise to have a good physical health check. Your eating disorder may have caused physical problems. Less commonly, you may have an unrecognised medical condition.

The most helpful treatments for you will probably depend on your particular symptoms, your age and situation.

First steps after being referred for anorexia

A psychiatrist or psychologist will first want to talk with you, to find out when the problem started and how it developed. You will be weighed and, depending on how much weight you've lost, may need a physical examination and blood tests. With your permission, the psychiatrist will probably want to talk with your family (and perhaps a friend) to see what light they can shed on the problem. If you do not want your family involved, even very young patients have a right to confidentiality. This can sometimes be appropriate because of abuse or stress in the family.

If you are still living at home, your parents may get the job of checking what food you are eating, at least at first. This involves making sure that you have regular meals with the rest of the family, and that you get enough calories. You will see a therapist regularly, both to check your weight and for support.

Dealing with this can be stressful for everyone concerned, so your family may need support. This doesn't necessarily mean that the whole family has to come to therapy sessions together (although this can be helpful for younger people). It does mean that your family can get help to understand and cope with the problem. However, parental involvement alongside the sufferer and the psychiatrist can sometimes aid recovery.

You will have the chance to discuss anything that may be upsetting you - how to get on with the opposite sex, studying, work, self-consciousness, or any family problems.

At first, you probably won't want to think about getting back to a normal weight, but you will want to feel better - and in order to feel better, you will need to get back to a healthy weight. You will need to know:

what is your healthy weight?

how much food you need each day to get there?

how can you make sure that you don't become fat?

how can you be sure that you can control your eating?

Psychotherapy or counselling for anorexia

This involves talking with a therapist, perhaps for one hour every week, about your thoughts and feelings. It can help you to understand how the problem started, and how you can change some of the ways you think and feel about things. It can be upsetting to talk about some things, but a good therapist will help you to do this in a way which helps you to cope better with your difficulties. They will also help you value yourself more, and rebuild your self-esteem.

Specially focussed versions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy are often offered, once you are well enough to benefit from the challenges of therapy rather than be more stressed by them. If you have therapy while your weight is low or falling, it appears that stress can make things worse rather than better.

Sometimes it can be done in a small group of people with similar problems.

Other members of your family can be included with your permission. The best researched form of family therapy for anorexia is known as the 'Maudsley Model'. Adults who have a partner may be treated as a couple. Relatives and carers may also be seen separately for sessions to help them understand what has happened to you, how they can work together with you, and how they can cope with the situation.

Treatment of this sort can last for months or years.

The doctor will only suggest admission to hospital if these steps do not work, or if you are dangerously underweight.

Hospital treatment

This also involves controlling your eating and talking about problems, only in a more supervised and structured way.

Blood tests will be done to check whether you are anaemic or at risk of infection.

Regular weight checks - to make sure that you are slowly gaining weight.

Other physical investigations may be needed to monitor any damage to your heart, lungs and bones.

Advice and help with eating and exercise

A dietician may meet with you to discuss healthy eating - how much you eat and how to make sure you get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

You may need vitamin and mineral supplements for a while as your body may lack essential nutrients.

You can only get back to a healthy weight by eating more and this may be very difficult at first. Staff will help you to:

Set reasonable targets for gaining weight

Eat regularly

Cope with the anxiety you feel

Your GP will be able to refer you to a suitably qualified exercise physiologist to advise you on the quantity, type and intensity of exercise which will be good for you.

Medication for anorexia

Doctors sometimes prescribe medication to help reduce the anxiety you experience while tackling the illness and, in particular, to reduce the 'ruminations' that sufferers describe.

Most experience has been with the drug Olanzapine, as this is safest in young people and in people who are at a low weight. It may be more effective than diazepam and similar drugs and is less likely to be habit-forming.

Gaining weight is not the same thing as recovery - but you can't recover without gaining weight. People who are severely starved usually find it difficult to concentrate or think clearly, particularly about their feelings.

Compulsory treatment for anorexia

This is unusual. It is only done if someone has become so unwell that he or she:

cannot make proper decisions for themselves

needs to be protected from serious harm.

In anorexia, this may happen if your weight is so low that your health (or life) is in danger and your thinking has been severely affected by the weight loss.

How effective is the treatment for anorexia?

More than half of sufferers make a recovery, although they will on average, be ill for 6-7 years.

Full recovery can happen even after 20 years of severe anorexia.

Past studies of the most severely-ill people admitted to hospital have suggested that 1 in 5 of these may die. With up-to-date care, the death rate is much lower, if the person stays in touch with medical care.

As long as the heart and other organs have not been damaged, most of the complications of starvation seem to improve slowly once a person is eating enough.

Your GP can refer you to a specialist counsellor, psychiatrist or psychologist.

You may choose a private therapist, self-help group or clinic, but it is still safer to let your GP know what is happening.

It's wise to have a good physical health check. Your eating disorder may have caused physical problems. Less commonly, you may have an unrecognised medical condition.

The most helpful treatments for you will probably depend on your particular symptoms, your age and situation.

Psychotherapy for bulimia

Two kinds of psychotherapy have been shown to be effective in Bulimia Nervosa. They are both given in weekly sessions over about 20 weeks.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

This is usually done with an individual therapist, with a self-help book, in group sessions, or with a CD Rom.

CBT helps you to look at your thoughts and feelings in detail. You may need to keep a diary of your eating habits to help find out what triggers your binges.

You can then work out better ways of thinking about, and dealing with, these situations or feelings. As with the treatment for anorexia, the therapist will help you to regain your sense of your own value as a person.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

This is also usually done with an individual therapist, but concentrates more on your relationships with other people. You may have lost a friend, a loved one may have died or you may have been through a big change in your life, like moving. It will help you to rebuild supportive relationships that can meet your emotional needs better than eating.

Eating advice to help with bulimia

This helps you to get back to regular eating, so you can maintain a steady weight without starving or vomiting. A dietician can advise you on healthy eating.

A guide such as “Getting Better BITE by BITE” (see references) can be helpful.

Medication for bulimia

Even if you are not depressed, high doses of antidepressants such as Fluoxetine (Prozac) can reduce the urge to binge eat.

This can reduce your symptoms in 2-3 weeks, and provide a “kick start” to psychotherapy. Unfortunately, without the other forms of help, the benefits wear off after a while.

How effective is the treatment for bulimia?

About half of sufferers recover, cutting their bingeing and purging by at least half. This is not a complete cure, but will let you get back some control of your life, with less interference from the eating problem.

The outcome is worse if you also have problems with drugs, alcohol or harming yourself.

CBT and IPT work just as effectively over a year, although CBT seems to start to work a bit sooner.

There is some evidence that a combination of medication and psychotherapy is more effective than either treatment on its own.

Eisler, I., Dare, C., Hodes, M., et al (2000) Family therapy for anorexia nervosa in adolescents: the results of a controlled comparison of two family interventions.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41,727-736.

Theander, S. (1985) Outcome and prognosis in anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Some results of previous investigations compared with those of a Swedish long-term study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 19, 493-508.

Senior R; Barnes J; Emberson J.R. and Golding J. on behalf of the ALSPAC Study Team (2005) Early experiences and their relationship to maternal eating disorder symptoms, both lifetime and during pregnancy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 268-273.

Credits

This information was produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Public Education Editorial Sub-Committee.